The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-06-22
THE TURQUOISE RING.
Good might. Pauline / must 90.

Good night, Pauline must 60"
ou must go?'
She fell back step, as if she detected
impatience in his tone.
You can't stay any longer?" she said
then, more helplessly.
No, | must be oil BE good girl,
/ Paulita, and and think of me some
times
He ended with laugh that sounded
half sarcastic. But she had loosened her
hold upon his arm, and she looked at
him almost with the calmness of de-
spair.
Think of me sometimes" he re-
peated.
Sometimesm she struck in with quiet
intensity. Always. Night and day,
morning, and midday, and evening, and
midnight Every moment, constantly,
faithfully, shall never let your image
leave me for an instant will wearyour
ring, and will look a. il and see your two
blue eyes watching me" Good
by, goodby, gocdby."
He regarded her for brief moment in
silence. ale appeared surprised yet re-
ieyed at her quietude. He WAS glad there
had been no scene, He had almost ex-
pected one Then he stopped hastily and
kissed her forehead lightly, just brushing
il with his lips. and turn ing, FASTENED
away.
He was Roger Hastings, the son of
wealthy parents he traced his ancestry
back for many generations. He had got
all out of his college course that he cared
for, and he was going 10 see the world
pretty thoroughly for the dozen years TO
come
1t would be strange III he did not care to
gather an occasional flower by the way
side as he went.
And Pauline? She watched him as long
as her eyes could tell his shape watch
Ell MIN pass briskly off into the twi-
light
She put her hand in the bosom Of her
dress and touched tenderly the ring size
wore upon blue ribbon-tne ring that
he had given her-the solid band with
its quaint setting of twin turquoises, ike
two blue eyes gazing steadily outward
She knew he would be true 10 her. She
knew he loved her.
Then Paulita came back 10 herself out
of pleasant dream into which she had
been drifting, and remembered that she
mus 20 to bed at once in order 10
rise carly and finish the fine work in
time.
81 never saw that ribbon around your
neck before said the chamberlnaid, sud-
denly. What is tia Gospel you're
wearing?y
Paulita hesitated.
@Yes,r she said, softly. hit keeps
harm away"
In a for,ni ght the family were at New
port.
Paulita wondered how soon she would
near from ntf bNSI- 'iit ioohNh III "
letter any day He would write TO
Newport, or even if he did not, the let
ter would be forwarded from the city
house
Panlita dreamed Il good deal-day
dreams while she sewed, or while she
helped the goeerness to take the children
for walks Pauiita dreamed by day and
by night. She dreamed as she walked
bv the ocean and looked out toward the
blue horizon rim.
But no letter came.
She wore her ring within her bosom.
Sometimes she took IT out and looked at
IL. and remembered his voice when he
gave it to her: remembered his soft laugh
when he warned her not to let acid touch
the stones and darken them.
Somstimes-aye, very oiten--sie kissed
the ring, and said, My Roger
But the days passed. and the weeks
passed, and no letter came, no word 1r
sign Of her lover.
At length Pauitas face began TO grow
thin and pale, her eyes seemed larger,
darker-for great hollows came about
them. She did not care for food She did
not sleep at night.
And still she waited for his letter
One afternoon the mistress bade her 10
do some work that needed the mistress
supervision.
Paulita sat palely watching her stich-
es an plying her needle. Some strange
influence had moved ber to take the tur-
quoise ring from her bosom and place it
upon her wedding-ring finger. Her hands
we've very thin and white. to match the
palIor Of her face, and the blue and heavy
gold shone markedly.
Was there any strslngeness IN this, that
a friend of Panlita's mistress, an intimate
friend, brusque, elderly, somewhat &C.
centric lady, should drop in for chat,
and so sit with Paulita's mistress in her
boudoir?
Paulita rose with an ininqniring glance
at her mistress. But the latter only srnil-
ed languidly.
~you need not go, Paulita continue
vour work. And to her visitor . This
is ms seamstress. She is an excellent lit
tie creature you need not mind her at
ALL